Dhaka, July 26 -- Venus Williams' return to tennis came to an abrupt end in the last 16 of the ATP/WTA DC Open on Thursday, with the veteran American losing to Poland's Magdalena Frech in straight sets.

The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, playing this week for the first time in 16 months, had become the oldest woman to win a WTA match in more than two decades with Tuesday's first round win over Peyton Stearns.But Williams found the going harder against fifth seed Frech in Thursday's third round clash, losing 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 13minutes.

Williams said she was nonetheless satisfied with her return to competitive tennis."I had so much fun," Williams said. "Not the result I wanted (but) I got to play a lot of matches, defi...